STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3225

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    H.B. No. 2232

       H.D. 2

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2012

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Judiciary and Labor, to which was referred H.B. No. 2232, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to address the circumstances under which pelvic examinations may be performed by certain health care providers and students on anesthetized or unconscious female patients.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Medical Board, American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaii, Planned Parenthood of Hawaii, Hawaii Women's Coalition, and five private individuals.

 

     Your Committee finds that this measure observes ethical consideration in health care by requiring the patient's prior informed consent for a pelvic examination.  While your Committee recognizes that it is important for students to learn how to correctly perform pelvic examinations, it believes that all patients should be afforded the opportunity to give prior informed consent whenever possible and that pelvic examinations should only be performed under certain circumstances when informed consent cannot be obtained.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary and Labor that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2232, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary and Labor,

 

 

 

____________________________

CLAYTON HEE, Chair